(Third Person POV)
"Law of Succession?" Saera asked, "And because of Astorias? You're starting to anger me, priest."
"Calm down, Saera." Mya told her, "Hear him out first."
"The Children of Drakken have no equals, except for themselves." Ezra said, "The power of the House needs to be balanced. If any of them eventually feels like they don't belong, they will drift off and they will provide problems. Now, I don't mean Princess Astorias exactly when I say this. But if we establish a proper Law of Succession, one that is fair for all of them, then there will be peace within the House."
"And by that...." Maegelle spoke up, "You mean.....like some sort of.....arrangement?"
"Exactly. While Riktor is the ironclad Heir at the moment." Ezra said, "Should something happen to him, which I doubt it will, someone needs to be in place to succeed him. However, once that moment comes, there might be complications and the possibility of infighting will happen. No matter how powerful a Family could be, their downfall will come from within. Unless we prevent it and instill in them that they can handle situations like these in a civil manner."
Mya looked at Drakken, "What do you say about this?"
"Riktor is the Heir." Drakken said, "If something should happen to him, someone needs to be in control."
"Yes, but who?" Saera asked him, "Obviously, it would be Sylas. He's the second oldest."
"Yes, but that's the point, Saera." Maegelle said, "While it is obvious that those two should be in charge, the other children might not feel the same way when that time comes. That's what you're saying, Ezra?"
"Yes." He said, "If they feel that way, there could be complications. There is the matter of you being Lord Drakken's intended Lady. Someone could use that to tempt the Twins or Vaella. It a mere example."
"But I am not his only wife." Maegelle said, "Drakken married us three on the same day."
"I am aware, but try explaining that to a Drakkengard who made their mind up." Ezra said, "What I am trying to say is that we should establish proper rules that regard the succession. We'll write it down and the children.....no, everyone else should know about it."
"Riktor is the Heir at the moment." Drakken spoke up, "Write this down. When Riktor becomes the Head, his position will be absolute. He will have no Heirs, all of his siblings will be his heirs."
"What?" Mya said, "What of Sylas?"
Drakken raised his hand up, "Let me finish." He said, "Write that down, Ezra."
Ezra opened his book and began to use his quill and write on the empty page, "Of course." He said, "That is good, very good. Lord Riktor Drakkengard's heir will be all of his siblings, the Drakkengard Demigods. Yes....."
"Should something happen to Riktor, either he is away or he's in no condition to run the House, then Sylas will be acting Head." Drakken said, "He'll assume the duties of the House and he'll be in charge until Riktor is able to take charge again. Write that down. That is Ironclad."
"Hm...." Ezra said, "Wise choice."
He was writing this down.
"And who will succeed him?" Saera asked him
"If Riktor Drakkengard somehow dies, which he won't, there will be no immediate successor." Drakken said seriously, "Sylas will assume responsibility until the next Head is decided. And that can only happen one way. But that is highly unlikely. However, it should be a precautionary plan."
Jon looked at him, "I don't think Lord Riktor will ever die, considering he is immortal like you." He said, "But to think ahead is not a bad idea."
"Lord Sylas acting as Head is wise." He said, "But would he not be a proper choice to actually succeed him?"
"That's up to him." Drakken said
Ezra was writing on the page, "And this way of choosing a successor." He said, "What did you have in mind?"
"This can happen while Riktor is Head." Drakken leaned back, "A way for all of his siblings to compete for the seat. This is a House governed by strength and only the strongest can lead it. The Duskguard, The Draconic Beasts, and their own Blessings...House Drakkengard is the mightiest and its Head can represent that. Riktor and Sylas might be the only ones you can think of at the moment, but that could change at any moment."
"If all of them compete....for it....." Viserra said, "Then that will show them that they are not being overlooked."
"Only if they want it, of course." Ezra placed his hand on his chin, "That is a good idea. Including all of them will prevent any resentment."
Maegelle looked at Drakken, "What did you have in mind?" She asked, "Some sort of test? Ritual?"
Drakken smirked slightly, "This is a House of War." He said, "That is the only way to determine it."
Olyver shifted in his seat, "I may have an idea of what you mean."
"Hm....." Jon said, "My Lord, perhaps you mean....."
"The War Games." Drakken said, "Yes.....something like that..."
"War Games?" Saera asked, "What are you talking about?"
"Is it similar to the Drakken Games? That fighting tourney?" Mya asked
"Something like that." Drakken said as he pointed at Ezra, "Write this down."
"Yes, of course." Ezra said, "War Games....."
"A series of competitive events that determine the Warring abilities of my children. Their Father is I, The God of War, so they must display their ability to run House Drakkengard." Drakken said, "The events will end with a final showdown between the finalists and that will determine the next Head."
"Is it some sort of Tourney that will determine a different Head?" Maegelle asked
"Yes." Drakken said, "A tournament of Battles."
"Battles?" Jon asked him
"Yes. War Games." Drakken was clearly excited by this idea, "All of them have to participate, no exceptions. It is the Law. They each have the same number of soldiers in their group, and they compete on a massive battlefield to determine their skills. The terrain will change at any moment, and they have to adapt their troops to what happens. Those who wipe out the enemy or force them to surrender will be victorious, and they will move on to the next round."
"Troops?" Saera said, "You're going to use actual soldiers for this?"
"Wouldn't be War Games without them." Drakken said
"And they will be used....and they could die?" Mya asked, a bit confused
"No, no. They will be immortal. I can handle that." Drakken said, "Every round will be different; they will have to prove themselves. Anyone can be eliminated at any round. And whoever reaches the final showdown will have the chance to win it all. Whoever wins the War Games becomes the new Head, or if the current Head wins it, they will remain as Head."
"I see....yes....that is good. It could prove as mental exercises for them, to improve their skills." Ezra said, "Yes, this is good."
"War Games.....this could be violent." Maegelle said
"This is merely a competitive way to determine the next Head. All of them will respect it." Drakken said, "Write this down Ezra; from the moment Riktor Drakkengard becomes the head, two years need to pass for the first War Games to be issued. Anyone can issue the challenge at any point in time after those two years pass. After the first-ever War Games is concluded, no challenge can be issued for four years. After those four years pass, the challenge can be issued again at any point in time. It could be weeks, it could be months, it could be years. But the four-year wait resets when any War Games have been concluded."
"Interesting....yes, this is good." Ezra said
"When a challenge is issued, High-Ranking members of the Trinity need to attend a council regarding the start of the War Games, acting as witnesses who stand in neutral grounds." Drakken pointed at Jon and Olyver, "That would be you."
"Hm...." Jon nodded
"That sounds fair." Olyver said
"Wait." Maegelle said, "You said all of your children need to participate. What if they don't want to? What if they don't want to fight?"
Drakken placed his hand on his chin, "Hm.....you're right, Vaella might not be that kind of person." He said, "Well.....during the council before the Games, all of the children will take a vote on who could be exempt from the War Games. That person will then choose to be exempt or not. Write that down, Ezra."
"Yes." Ezra wrote it down on the paper
"What if the vote is rigged?" Saera asked, "Your children might be resentful and petty, you never know,"
"Hm....." Drakken said, "If anyone else other than the voted person doesn't want to participate, well, shit.....that would be rather disappointing...well, I guess we can do something. Some sort of currency....? Like tokens of some sort. Obtain enough tokens through performing rites or....trials.....and then cash them in to be exempt. I don't know, we can figure out the details of that."
"Tokens....." Ezra said, "Yes. Yes."
"This could....prove to be a rather healthy way of determining a new Head....." Maegelle said, "Without the children fighting amongst themselves. But depending on how Riktor will handle things, maybe the challenge won't happen."
"I doubt it." Drakken said, "Strength always incites challenge. Maybe Riktor doesn't want to do something that another kid wants to do and he keeps them from doing it. They might want to challenge for the spot so they can have the power to do what they want to."
"If Riktor loses the War Games?" Mya asked
"Then he'd take it fairly and honorably." Drakken said, "But don't worry."
"I highly doubt he'd lose."